Wick Extinguishing, Dispensing and Storing Device

ABSTRACT

A device for dispensing and automatically extinguishing pre-waxed hemp wick is described. The invention includes a main body, consisting of an area that may readily be gripped by a user and another area to store a length of pre-waxed wick. The user pulls or unwinds a length of wick from the storage area, and pushes the wick at the point where it should be extinguished into a notch cut into a sufficiently flame-retardant material located at the top of the main body. The notch is in width slightly smaller than standard pre-waxed hemp wick, therefore securely holding the wick and causing the burning wick to automatically extinguish by removing air from the combustion process when the flame reaches the notch. A recess located directly under the notch allows for easy retrieval of the next portion of wick to be burned.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Description of the Prior Art

Wick has been used for centuries to provide a dependable flame. Commonly made out of cotton or hemp, wick can be found in candles, lanterns, heaters, and many such devices which require a source of flame. While modern lighters and matches have mostly replaced the wick in everyday life, using pre-waxed wick is experiencing a resurgence in popularity for reasons related to health, environmental, cost and lifestyle benefits, such as pre-waxed wick's attractiveness for outdoor use.

Using pre-waxed wick, often made with natural hemp cord and bees-wax, is a natural alternative to butane lighters and matches. It preserves the flavor of fine tobacco and reduces harmful exposure to butane. Pre-waxed wick is waterproof and allows for an extended reach when lighting grills, pilot lights, stoves and campfires, among other uses. The lighted wick continues to burn, more quickly than a candle, until extinguished by snuffing or blowing.

One currently common method for storing and transporting pre-waxed wick is to wrap it around a device of convenience and extend one end to be lighted. One such popular device is a butane lighter. While this method offers some convenience, wrapping a tank of flammable liquid with a product designed to easily ignite and remain burning, such as pre-waxed wick, can result in a hazardous fire. Another popular device around which wick can be wrapped is a smoking pipe, commonly made of wood or glass. While these devices have some inherent flame-retardant qualities, they do not address the lack of a flame barrier between the lighted wick and the stored wick. Simple distraction can lead to wasting wick or causing a potentially hazardous fire.

Another safety issue with storing and transporting pre-waxed wick wrapped around a device of convenience, such as a lighter or smoking pipe, is that a length of wick is often stored in the same area designated to be grasped by the user's hand. The hazard in this method is that the wax embedded into and coating the pre-waxed wick allows the lighted wick to continue to burn, possibly into the user's hand, and the embers of a just-extinguished wick-end can continue to glow hot while still exposed to the air. Also, pre-waxed wick is rough and sticky, making it somewhat uncomfortable to the touch.

Many people, such as those with sensitivities to smoke, find it preferable to snuff out a flame rather than blow it out, as snuffing results in less smoke being released into the air. Others may prefer snuffing due to difficulties with focused blowing caused by impairments to the lungs or muscles surrounding the lips and mouth. Manually snuffing out a flame can be an awkward and dangerous maneuver: using water requires a water source to be located nearby; using one's fingers can possibly cause a burn; using one of the many devices available for snuffing out a candle decreases the convenience of burning hemp wick by requiring the use of a secondary tool not included with the dispensing device.

Further issues arise for those persons who have been hampered with physical impairments, such as impaired manual grip-strength and dexterity. Some may find it difficult to securely hold the thin strand of lighted wick without a dispensing device which can be held securely in the hand. Some may also find it difficult to bring their fingers precisely together in order to snuff the lighted wick.

Since the invention of the candle, one of the most ancient methods for burning wick, wick extinguishing devices have been introduced and modified upon. These devices have included: dome shaped snuffers; movable tubes, tongs, arms and cap snuffers; air powered extinguishers; removing the fuel source, such as wax, oil or butane, from the wick by inserting a barrier; or other means. However, those devices which extinguish a lighted wick by removing air from the combustion process either rely on moving parts, require some level of mechanical or human interaction after the wick has been lighted, or do not address the need for a user to easily and exactly select the length of wick to be burned and then automatically extinguished.

For example, Millar, U.S. Pat. No. 4,497,374, describes a candle snuffer with parallel elongated tines and a handle, looking like a two-pronged fork, in which the space between the tines is slightly larger than the thickness of a normal candle wick. The snuffer is used by positioning the base of the lighted wick between the tines and lifting the device up and over the flame, immediately extinguishing the flame. Millar provides an adequate means of safely extinguishing a burning wick. But, the manner of extinguishing does not occur automatically and requires a certain level of manual dexterity to properly position the snuffer around the burning wick.

In comparison, Viggiani, U.S. Pat. No. 7,841,857 B2 provides a means of automatically extinguishing a burning candle by means of a scissor-like apparatus which snuffs the burning wick when it has burned down into the apparatus enclosure. Viggiani allows for a user to select the length of candle to be burned before lighting the wick, and no further human intervention is required to snuff the burning candle. However, this device relies on moving parts to secure the section of candle into the apparatus. Moving parts can break or wear down with use, reducing the device's ability to securely hold and extinguish the burning candle.

Finally, Keiffer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,578,670 B2, teaches of a self-extinguishing candle comprising of a series of appliances, each enclosing a portion of wick intended to be burned. When the candle burns down to where the wick has reached the top the first wick appliance, the impenetrability of the wick appliance will smother the flame, along with any molten wax that may flow into the hollow channel within the appliance containing the next portion of wick to be burned. However, the length of the appliance is predetermined and the user cannot exactly select the length of wick to be burned before lighting the candle.

In response to the growing popularity in using pre-waxed wick, devices can now be purchased which are intended for that use. Each of these devices allow for the storage and dispensation of wick. However, improvements can be made towards their ease of use, especially for those persons with impairments to the use of their hands who may find it difficult to use any one of these devices.

Quikwicks “Wooden Hemp Wick Dispenser” [quikwicks.com AND indiegogo.com/Quik-Wick] stores a length of hemp wick and a small butane lighter within the main body of the device, which is not much bigger than a standard disposable butane lighter. The user dispenses the portion of wick intended to be burned, and lights the end of the wick with the small butane lighter contained within the device. Wick dispensation is achieved by turning a small wheel partially exposed on a narrow edge of the device. While the description of this product on the Quikwicks website is not clear on the method of extinguishing the burning wick, two methods can be inferred. One method would be to extinguish the flame by blowing. A second method would allow the wick to burn down to the small metal tube from which the wick is dispensed, hidden with the device, where the flame would be snuffed. While this device is a successful wick storing, dispensing and lighting device, those people hampered with impairments to the use of their hands may find it difficult to turn the small wheel in order to dispense the next portion of wick intended to be burned, and refill the small chamber within the device with wick.

The remainder of the wick holders available at the Quikwicks Smoke Shop online store [http://shop.quikwicks.com/collections/gong] require an average or better level of manual dexterity to dispense the wick. A length of hemp wick is stored in a jar. The top of the jar is made of glass or cork which pulls out of the main body, or a metal screw-top, each top containing a hole slightly larger than the thickness of the wick through which the wick is fed. A portion of wick intended to be burned is pulled out of the jar through the hole. The burning wick is extinguished either by blowing, or by allowing the wick to burn down to the hole in the top, thus extinguishing the flame by snuffing.

While this device is a successful wick storing device, allowing the burning wick to snuff out in the top leaves only the smallest stub of charred wick-end exposed. Even those with average manual dexterity may find it difficult to grasp the charred wick-end securely enough to pull out the next portion of wick. Also, touching the charred wick-end leaves black soot on the fingers. Another device, such as tweezers, could be used to rectify these problems. However, this decreases the level of convenience of the dispensing device, necessitating the use of a secondary tool not included with the dispensing device.

The Humboldt Traders online store seems to bear some relation to Quikwicks and sells hemp wick dispensers similar to Quickwicks but made entirely of glass. [humboldt-traders.com/hempwickdispenser/] The description on their website is limited and it is unclear whether the hole in the top extinguishes the burning wick. However, the same problems arise as with the aforementioned Quickwicks holder, in that one method of retrieving the next portion of wick intended to be burned necessitates pulling up the charred wick-end from the top. While the glass top may allow for pushing up more wick from the bottom of the hole, this method requires repeated re-threading of the wick into the hole in the top which may be difficult for those with impairments to the use of their hands.

Beeline's online store sells the “Wickit Wand” [http://www.thebeelinestore.com/wickitwand.html]. This device is made of metal and comprised of a wick storage area, two outer arms held apart by tension, and a tip which uses the tension of the outer arms to securely hold the wick between two faces. This device allows the user to select the length of wick to be burned and automatically extinguishes lighted wick at the tip by snuffing. However, the tension in the outer arms can diminish with repeated use, decreasing the effectiveness of the tip's ability to securely hold and extinguish the lighted wick. Also, threading the wick into the tip of the device may be difficult for those with impairments to the use of their hands.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is large enough to be held securely in the hand and/or stand on its own, such as on a table. It allows the user to select the length of wick to be burned by removing a desired portion from the wick storage area and securing that portion of wick into the extinguishing notch, made from a flame-retardant and durable material such as metal. When the flame has burned through the desired portion of wick and reaches the extinguishing notch, air is removed from the combustion process and the lighted wick is automatically snuffed. The extinguished wick-end remains lodged in the extinguishing notch, and a recess located directly under the extinguishing notch allows for easy retrieval of the wick for the next use. The device's ability to safely and automatically extinguish a flame does not diminish with repeated use as no moving parts are involved in the dispensing and extinguishing processes.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a lighted wick extinguisher.

It is another object of the invention to provide a lighted wick extinguisher that accomplishes this passively, without mechanical or human interaction.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a lighted wick extinguisher that uses the notch to remove air from the combustion process in order to extinguish the lighted wick.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a lighted wick holder which can be comfortably and securely held in the hand, or stand on its own.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a designated area incorporated into the device to store a length of wick.

It is yet a further object of the invention to provide an easy method of dispensation of a desired portion of wick.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a lighted wick extinguisher that is unique and aesthetically pleasing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a completed top view of a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a completed side view of an example of a first embodiment of the present invention with wick attached;

FIG. 3 is a completed side view of an example of a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a completed side view of another example of a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a top view detail of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a top view detail of the present invention with wick attached;

FIG. 7 is an exploded side view of an example of a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a completed side view of an example of a second embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a completed side view of another example of a second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale, some features may be exaggerated to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

The present invention is shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 & 4 as a wick extinguishing, dispensing and storing device 10. The device 10 includes the flame barrier 11 which houses the extinguishing notch 16, and the main body 23 which includes the wick storage area 19 and the area that may readily be gripped by a user 22.

The flame barrier 11, made from a flame-retardant material such as stainless steel, houses the extinguishing notch 16. The flame barrier 11 serves to protect the main body 23 from burning or hot ash residue from the portion of wick selected to be burned 15, and to provide a safe material in which to snuff the wick 18 in the extinguishing notch 16. As shown in the exploded view in FIG. 7, in the present embodiment of the invention the flame barrier 11 is attached to the main body 23 by means of a flame-retardant fastener 13, such as a metal screw. If not already included in the fastener 13, a small flame-retardant washer or finish washer 12 placed around the head of the fastener 13 increases the durability of the device 10 by providing even pressure on the flame barrier 11, and improves safety by enclosing possible sharp edges of the fastener 13 which would make it uncomfortable to touch. FIG. 5 shows a top-view detail of the flame barrier 11, washer 12 and fastener 13. Another embodiment of the invention would allow for the flame barrier 11 to be attached to the main body 23 by use of an adhesive. A further embodiment of the invention would allow for the flame barrier 11 and the main body 23 to be molded in one piece using a flame-retardant material such as metal, ceramic or high-strength plastic.

The extinguishing notch 16 is cut into the flame barrier 11 and has an extra wide mouth opening to easily position the wick 18 into the extinguishing notch 16. FIG. 6 shows a top view detail of said flame barrier 11, washer 12 and fastener 13, and how the wick 18 should be positioned in the extinguishing notch 16. The inner section of the extinguishing notch 16, sized slightly smaller in width than the thickness of standard pre-waxed wick, securely holds the wick 18, and extinguishes the portion of wick selected to be burned 15 when it burns down to the extinguishing notch 16 by removing air from the combustion process. Once the portion of wick selected to be burned 15 is extinguished, a small portion of charred wick 18 remains lodged in the extinguishing notch 16, allowing for easy retrieval of stored wick 17 from the wick retrieval recess 14, located directly under the extinguishing notch 16, for the next use.

The wick retrieval recess 14 is incorporated into the wick storage area 19, and provides an access area directly below the extinguishing notch 16 for ease in securing the wick 18 into, and retrieving the wick 18 from, the extinguishing notch 16. The wick retrieval recess 14 should be big enough to allow for easy retrieval of stored wick 17 and positioning the wick 18 into the extinguishing notch 16, without diminishing the integrity of the connection between the fastener 13 and the main body 23. The wick retrieval recess 14 may be of various sizes dependent on a variety of factors, such as size of fingers, level of dexterity and width of the main body 23.

In the embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 & 7 the main body 23 includes the wick storage area 19 and the area that may readily be gripped by a user 22, and may be made of wood or any other sufficiently rigid and strong material such as high-strength plastic, metal, ceramic and the like. The wick storage area 19 and the area that may readily be gripped by a user 22 are separated by the wick holding ridge 20. The wick holding ridge 20 keeps the stored wick 17 in the wick storage area 19 from sliding into the area that may readily be gripped by a user 22. The edge 21 of the main body 23 closest to the flame barrier 11 is beveled for user comfort.

In the embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 2, a length of wick 17 is wrapped around the wick storage area 19. The wax coating on pre-waxed wick causes the wick to adhere to itself, keeping the length of stored wick 17 bound around the wick storage area 19. The user unwinds the desired portion of wick selected to be burned 15 from the wick storage area 19 and secures the wick 18 into the extinguishing notch 16, exposing the portion of wick selected to be burned 15 above the flame barrier 11.

In the embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIGS. 8 & 9, a length of wick 17 is stored in a hollow inside the main body 23, with access through a panel or other opening in the main body 23. The length of stored wick 17 may be placed in said hollow or wrapped around a dowel housed within said hollow, and dispensed through an opening below the flame barrier 11 and near the extinguishing notch 16. These embodiments of the present invention may exclude the wick holding ridge 20 and may include other necessary improvements and decorative embellishments. Otherwise all other aspects and objects of the present invention remain.

The embodiments of the invention as illustrated and described above may be fabricated in a number of ways. Any flame-retardant material of a reasonable hardness and durability may be used in the manufacture of the flame barrier. Any sufficiently rigid and strong material may be used in the manufacture of the main body. Decorative detail and finishes can be applied as desired. The size of the invention and it's components can also vary. The device can be made small enough to fit into a pocket, or large enough to stand on a floor. The invention could also be incorporated into a piece of furniture or other objects, such as a box or bowl.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawing), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Although the invention has been described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It should be understood that applicant does not intend to be limited to the particular details described above and illustrated in the drawings of this application and the equivalent designs discussed in the text, but is also intended to cover other equivalents now known to those skilled in the art, or those equivalents which may become known to those skilled in the art in the future. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of dispensing and extinguishing the flame of pre-waxed wick of predetermined thickness, comprising of: a) a notch arranged to receive and securely hold a portion of wick selected to be burned, the width of said notch slightly smaller than said predetermined wick thickness in order to extinguish the burning wick by removing air from the combustion process; b) a flame barrier which is made out of a sufficiently flame-retardant material attached to the main body, houses the extinguishing notch, and separates a portion of wick selected to be burned from the stored length of wick; and c) a main body which houses a wick retrieval recess area and a designated area to store a length of wick.
 2. A wick extinguisher according to claim 1, wherein said notch is located at the outer edge of said flame barrier and directly above said wick retrieval recess area.
 3. A wick extinguisher according to claim 1, wherein said wick retrieval recess area is sized large enough for a user to grasp the exposed portion of wick located below the flame barrier.
 4. A wick extinguisher according to claim 1, wherein said designated area to store a length of wick is separate from the area that may readily be gripped by a user.
 5. A wick extinguisher according to claim 4, wherein said designated area to store a length of wick is separated from said area that may readily be gripped by a user by a wick holding ridge.
 6. A wick extinguisher according to claim 1, wherein said designated area to store a length of wick is housed within said main body of the device.
 7. A method for extinguishing a burning pre-waxed wick comprising the following steps: a) storing a length of pre-waxed wick by wrapping it around, or placing it into, the storage area on or within the main body of the device; b) locating the point on the wick where it should extinguish and pushing that point into the extinguishing notch, so that the portion of wick to be burned is on the opposite side of the flame barrier from the main body; c) lighting the end of the wick exposed on the opposite side of the flame barrier from the main body; d) allowing the lighted wick to burn down to the extinguishing notch to be extinguished by removing air from the combustion process, with little smoke produced in the extinguishing process; e) removing the charred wick-end from the extinguishing notch by grasping the exposed wick in the wick retrieval recess area under the flame barrier; f) removing a length of wick from the storage area; and g) continuing from step b) until supply of stored length of wick is exhausted. 